Editing David Copperfield (1935 film) (section)

==Production==
[[File:David-Copperfield-Bartholomew.jpg|thumb|left|[[Herbert Mundin]], [[Freddie Bartholomew]] and [[Jessie Ralph]] in ''David Copperfield'']]
[[David O. Selznick]] dearly wanted to film ''David Copperfield'', as his Russian father, [[Lewis J. Selznick]], had learned English through it, and read it to his sons every night.  After failing to dissuade Selznick from the project, [[Louis B. Mayer]], his father-in-law and employer, agreed that MGM would underwrite the production provided his star child contract actor [[Jackie Cooper]] was cast in the role of the young David. Selznick fought to remain true to the novel's origins and prevailed, and the role went to [[Freddie Bartholomew]] after an extensive talent search in Canada and Great Britain by Selznick and George Cukor.

[[Cedric Gibbons]] designed a recreation of 19th century London on the [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer|MGM]] [[backlot]].<ref name="Deschner">{{cite book |title=The Films of W. C. Fields |last=Deschner |first=Donald |year=1966 |publisher=Cadillac Publishing by arrangement with The Citadel Press|location=New York |page=[https://archive.org/details/filmsofwcfields00desc/page/106 106] |url=https://archive.org/details/filmsofwcfields00desc|url-access=registration }}</ref> The scenes set outside Aunt Betsey's house atop the [[white cliffs of Dover]] were filmed at [[Malibu, California|Malibu]]. MGM even filmed the exterior of [[Canterbury Cathedral]], which only appears in the film for less than a minute. [[Special effects]], including many [[Matte (filmmaking)|matte]] shots, were by [[Slavko Vorkapić]].<ref name="Deschner" />

[[Charles Laughton]] was originally cast in the role of Mr. Micawber, and was authentically made up with a bald cap, since Dickens describes the character as hairless. After two days' work, he disliked his performance in the [[dailies]] and asked to be replaced.<ref name=Higham261>{{cite book |last1=Higham |first1=Charles |author-link1=Charles Higham (biographer)| title=Merchant of Dreams: Louis B. Mayer, M.G.M., and the Secret Hollywood |edition=paperback |date=Dec 1994 |orig-year=1993 |publisher=Dell Publishing|isbn=0-440-22066-1 |page=261}}</ref> It was said at the time that "he looked as though he were about to molest the child."

Selznick released Laughton, who, in turn, recommended comedian and Dickens scholar [[W. C. Fields]] for the part. A clause in Fields' contract stated that he had to play the part with a British accent, but as he had difficulty learning the lines and had to read off [[cue cards]] he thus speaks in his own accent in the role. His defense: "My father was an Englishman and I inherited this accent from him! Are you trying to go ''against'' nature?!" This is the only film where Fields does not [[ad lib]], and he plays the character in a straightforward manner (although he did want to add a juggling sequence; when this was denied, an anecdote about snakes, which was also denied). Director [[George Cukor]] said that when Fields did make a suggestion for a visual bit, such as accidentally dipping his quill in a teacup instead of an inkwell, it was always within the parameters of the character. The result was one of the finest performances of that year.<ref name="Higham261" />